Refrigerator car



Nov. 11, 1930.

- K. EDAHL 1,781,169

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed May 17. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nev; 11', 1930.

K. EDAHL REFR I GERATOR CAR Filed May 17. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' K. EDAHL Nov. 11, 1930.

REFRIGERATOR CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 Filed May 17. 1929 flooryshorten s the life 0 ever nails or boards are lOOSBIlGdCOBSlClBIlblG and sometimes tears ofi lining boards,

Patented Nov. 11, 1930 omeg sures J 3am; ED HLj'or cHIoAGqi Lrrioisfi ,5 Q I aesaiesm m 501m applicat on filed May 17, 1929 Seria1 No. 63,87 6;

The present invention relates to refrigera tor cars, and is particularly concerned with improvements relating to floor racks for refr gerator cars:

5 In the refrigerator cars of the prior art the floor racks are ordinarily secured to the car adjacent the outer walls ofthe'car, but the racks aretotally lacking in securing devices adjacent thei'niddle of the car, andthe 1o shocks to which the car may be subjected in transit cause a shifting of the cargo with the racks, This shifting ofthe racks with the cargo, permits one part of theca'rgowto crowd against other parts and against the" bulkhead, often crushing parts of the: cargo and the shifting of the racks often breaks the hinges 'or other devices which secure the racks to'the car. 7 -I The'c onstant" shifting of the racks on the damage may be caused tojthe floor and tothe cargo by the shifting racks. The sh-ifting of the racks also loosens'their hinge tastenings,

dam-

aging the insulation and permitting 'Water to penetrate into the insulation. One oftheobj ects of the present invention is the provision'of an improved refrigerator car in which the floor racks are adequately anchored in place to eliminate the foregoing difficulties and others.

Another object is positively to prevent the shifting or crawling of the floor racks under the load, to eliminate crow ding'o'r crushing of the load and to eliminate additional strains placed on a bulkhead by such shifting ofthe load and floor racksI l v Another object is the provision of aposi- 40 tive anchorage for floor racks'adjacent the center of thecar, which Will prevent loosening of the rack hinges, tearing off lining boards, wear on the floor, and other damage occasioned by shifting of the racks.

Another object-is theprovision'of'a floor;-

racl: anchorage which has no projecting parts to damage the ladin g When the racks are in folded position, and which is adapted to move automatically into the anchoring position v when the racks are'lcwerecl to the floor.

f thefioor and when,

frigerator struction,,.to whichthepresent invention is Another object provision of an anchorlng'device which isunivers'ally vappli I cable t-o'oldandnew cars and racks, Without the necessityaforathe removal of-Ither'acks from the car; i

slr knoth'er' object is the provision ofelan anchoragefor floor racks'whic'h is sturdy and simple, yet effective and: economical of mate -1' rial andl bor in its "manufactureandassembly with' the racks of the cart", i

' Other ob ects and advantages of the invene ti on'Wilhbe' apparent from-thepfollowi-ng descr pt on' and fromthe accompany ng drawings -iini which similar characters: of reference indicate sinnlar parts throughout thejseveral viewsg 1 5 1 r i Referring to the drawings; of which. there are three-sheets; e,

i ,r Fig' l is a section of a portion ofa refrigerator car the floor racks-to} show the floor racks in both positions; e .,1 I

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view'of the floor on the vertical plane rack anchorage takenof the line 2'1 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the di rection'oft he arrows; 1 I Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the" anchorage shownin Figs. 1''and '2'; g Fig; l is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane of'the" Knee-40f Fig. 3,: looking in the direction'of the arrows?" r a Fig; 5' is a'detail plan view' of'therack anchorage with the racks in foldedposition, as shown at the right wall'of Fig.1; 7

of a modifiedfan'd simpler for n of anchorage;

7 is a plan view-bf the same anchora r 1 a is a sectional view taken on the verticalplane of the line 8- -8 offFig. 7; Y

Referring to" F g. 1, "20 i ndicates a re car or'other car of'the 'usual 'con= applied; Since most of the details of the refrigerator car do not affect the merits of the presentinvention, the car willnot, be described in detaihexcept to ,mentionthe essential elements such as the floor 21,'si de I M11322 and and bulkhead 2% i h e- Fig. 6 is a sectlona'l view similar to, Fig. 2,

taken on afhorizon'tal plane above 7" 7 Y the cargospace in the floorracks are generally used. r

r The floor racks-29 preferably c onsistof a" pluralityofsections-30, 31, 32, 33,, 34;' 35

adapted to:be'folded-against theiwallsof the 7 car Whenever'it isdesired tofusethezcar ith- 'out floor raeks. Forthispurposethe racks 31, 34 and'are pivotally secured to thecar Walls 23' and 22; V respectively," adjacent the hinges 36 may be of any conventionaltype. Si-ncejthe raekisections 32' an-d-33fwhich 25 wouldi otherwise obstruct the doors v these ,I

rack sectionsfarepiv otallysecured to'the' ends of the sections 31 and' 34, respectively; hinges 3 7jalso carried by theflend'sof the sec-J ,ti0ns- 32 and'33: Y 4 q It will thus be observed that-thesections cover the floor adj acent-the dqom e'nin s 28,

30 a'nd si may be fol'ded up againstztheWall 23; in; the mannenshown with-respect to the section s 3fi and 35, after ivhich the middle I sectio'nj32jmay be folded .over againstthesec-l 4 tion 3l a si 'shown' With respect tothe section, 33

in Figgl I 1 Wise secured a pluralitylofspac'ed transverse I strips 39, and-Whiletthe presentenibodiment "foldp I I r V r i 1 It will thus; be :ohserved that v thestringers of the nidd'leg sections 32, f33;- 1nay, be re- '.ceivedIbetwe'entheistringers 38 ofthe sections I 3 a 1ith e e tio i ylere'eompleme l ery is illustrated with respect jtof raeksi -gc'onstructed ofjlum'ber, it will be evident that; the i I racks may be 1 constructed 'of-' any desirable material. 7 i V Tare intended it be 'l olded against the 'fad jaeent racks 31, '34,1res'peetively-, the middle -rack1s 32and 33 are;prefeiably constructed their stringers '40" ofi'set slightly-from the stringers: 38 io'fthesections 31 ,334 into I wrhich the "middle I i sections -I are adapted" to sinee'itheizmi ddle racks 3 2; and '33 I to eachlother tor-the purpose of folding'into th m l st-pp l ispate- Wh n'ihe -r ,tions are ftolded ttS S hQWl'lat; the right of Ll; filmy may, be retained 'in th'e uppe 1 position; by any convenient iasmningm ans,

I cured only adjacentithe carxwall, the shiftwally I 1 3 ,"howeventhe hinges 36 permit 7 the prior'rac'ks atzthe, middl bfra lleoc ifil intended, that is,to protect thefidoli-andtahe The refrigerator carsgconstrncted I mg h p e ntinve tio arep v edw th I f I anchorlng means-for thefra'qks 'located' ad I The anchoring meansmay consist of one or a pairof' racks.

V such asthe Ingle hookbetw'en theirniddlesection;

of thisisectioniii place will au tomaticallyire.

Since .thejracks of the prior art were" se tainboth-the sections 33 and 3d. against the. I all. ,o The other sections 30,35and- 32 maykalso be provided Withsecuringdevices-for holding thesections in folded position; 70

ing 03E theload placed at'the center of the car 1 upon portions of the racks having; no anchorage, tended to shift the racks with the load, I

and the:leverage provided bythe substantial vvidth' "of the racks was sometimes suflicient V toltearthehinges and lining boards from the,

ted a considerable latitude of, movement of the :shocks caused thejload upon I one rack to 1 crowd against th'ejloadon-another raclriso.

the prior-racks shifted 'aboutpnthefloor2l producing Wear on the floor, and if a'ny ob structions, such. as loose na ls were encoum tered, the -floor'was damaged; and in fact due that parts' otth'e load might heerushed; and s; I I

to the absence; ofaan etfectivefenqhorage for -1 1 the'racks; the'priorracks; didg not kperf orm J eitectively theiunction r forwvhich' theyv were r the wear of any shiftingload:

ja'centthe middle of thecar ianda'daptedposi- I,

tively to prevent; any longitudinal shifting ofanyv of theracks30fl35;, vvithout'forniing 1 I I i h o any,obstructionsinjthefi oor, esp,ecially be; 7 The r'a'lc k seetionsf30f' 35 preferably c01 sist of a 'plurality of longitudinally eXtIlding stringers 38to which areinail'ed or other;-

tween the door: openings 28 1 where it is"fre-* quentlydesirable tol run-trucks through'jithe j can more {fixed anchoringlmembers or plates-41',

42,adapted-to cooperateWithanchoringmem- I bers 53,- 5carried by the ra ks The fixed members or anchor; plates ll; 42: be con,-

some embodiments of tl eiinvention the pair The anchor plate lll brovided me sloping Walls lfiand the'platell'is preferably set in a mplementar .f esfif th flw ci-iss'lti extending longitudinally of;plate ll": I I and transversely of car 2O', the side 'wallsgii l, 45 0f recess43 formingshoulders for enga e y ni ent;with shoulders on the anchorl members 1;,- V .Hcarr-ied-"byjthe racks. I alter convenience" in I I "I .c'le aning -the ea r and sweeping outfthe recess 1 I r J43,-the ends-of the-recess aregpro'vided with y t i I I h V 1 10 structed of sheet metal or cast metal,.and 1n 1 int; 27. The plate 4-1 is provided with a: pin: rality of counter-sunk apertures 48 for receiv ingwood screws 49, which secure the plate to the floor21; and the'pla tes ,41 and 42j form recesses in the floor 21 which are reinforced by the walls of the platesto provide shoulders for engaging the anchor members carried by theracks. I

Although the anchorplates41, 42 for no obstru ion iii-the floor 21, being mounted flushjmth the flooryth'ey are preferably lo Catedajcent the -'center of the car atfthe corners ofthe racks 30, 31, 34,-35, b,ecause it is desirable to maintain the floorspace smooth- ,1 betwi'i the door'openin'gs 28, and since the anchorage located at the point described is capable of anchoring all of the raclrs by Virtue oftlie' cooperation of the hinges3'? sufiiciently to receive one of the :string ers 38 and tlie'legs 55, '56 being joined by ayoke 5'1 adapted to be received in the recess '43 of anchor plate 41 carried by the floor 21; p .i

The movable anchor members .53 are preferably movably' mounted on-Lthe stringers38 so.

that they may be moved to a position in which no parts-projectfrom the racks -35when tlieracks are folded against the walls 22,23, and consequently the legs 56 are' provided with apertures 58 for receiving a bolt 59 which pivotally supports the anchor ine'mhers '53 onstrin gers38;

Since the pivotal movement otthe anchor members 53'is ina plane which extends lone gitudinally of the: stringers 38 and substa-n ti-a lly in the direction of the movement which is intended-to beprevente'd; the racks 30%35 are also provided with fixed anchor members 54 comprising metal plates carried by. the

underside of the racks, and adapted to prevent pivotal movement ofth'e'movable mem bers 53 when the racks are in the anchored position. Thus the fixed plates 54 carried by momma-a5 may comprise metal members secured to the lower sidesof the stringers 38 adjacent the ends thereof, and immediately above the plates 41, 42; The fixed anchor plates 54 are also provided with slots or, recesses extending transversely to the stringers 38: and-forming shoulders 61 62 which register with the shoulders44, 45ofthe'plates 41,42 carrie'cl by the floor; I

v The depth of the recesses 43in the floor plates'and the recesses, 60 inv the rack plates are such that when both plates are placed to.- gether, asshown inFig'. 2', a recess is formed of sufficient depth to receive'the yoke 57 of the movable anchor member 53.: The "anchor P1356554: are secured to the racks by aiplurality of screw bolts 63,cthe plates 54 b'eingset flush with the lower surface of the stringers 38 in recesses 64.

- Since the yoke 57 is intended to b'ereceived in the slot 60 of the rack plate :54, it is necesg sary to provide elongated apertures58 in the legs 55, 56 of the movable anchor member 53;

/ and the elongated apertures 58 enable the movable anchor member 1 or "stirrup 53 to be moved downward suflic-ien tly" to cle'ar 'the" shoulder 62 when it is desired tomove the stirnups't o'the positionf shown in It should be noted, however, that the, stirrups 53 aremounted quite loosely on the bolts so -that when the racks'are movedflfromthe,

positionof Figs 5 to the position ot Fi-gi2; the "stirrups 53 naturally gravitate, t the proper position bel'ovv -the recess 60; andtlie yo'kes' 57 are forced into recess 60 whenthe rack engages the floor. Should the parts' not register properly at the first engagement of int e position shown in Eig.'2; the. relatively thick yoke 57; is :in dilrect 'shear'between shoulders 61'', 62011 the rack "plate .54 and-the shoulders 44, 45 on theffio'o-r plate 41 and the racks 30,31, 34, 35"arejeach positivelyano by nerely shifting" the l t should benotedthatwhen the I chored by-the anchorage at the plates 4 1542;

The middle racks32, 33 acenlt door openings 28v are provided with hinges 37 which secure them to the other racks adjacent the walls of the and! a n h n the as and the center hinges 37 are adapted toipre- V6111? ny substantialmoven'i'ent of theniiddle racks32,33;

It is of course, possible to provide the v choring; devices at any point inthe c'ar, but asa general rule it will be found desirable to maintain the floor space between tli'e d'oors 28, smooth fortheipassage of; trucks, withbut any recesses or otherl devices? which might 'c'aus'eeven slight bumps.='

Refer'r'ingto Figsz 6to:8inclusivegthemod ified form illustrated in these figures is of" more simple construction, in'which the anchor' members carried by'tliera'cks are not adaptedtobetolded into the racks: In'this embodiment the plates corresponding: tot-he floor plates 41;' 4 2' ha ve both been "formed in a single plate 65 which is otherwiseof substantially thesani'eform astlie plates 41 Where the p1ate-65 is constructed east- 1ng,'1t may be-providedwith 'p'luralit of transverse reinforcing ribs 66; but if desired,

the plate 65 may be a sheet metal stamping.

Since the plate'65-is substantially,identical with-the parts previously described, -fii1 ther description is considered unnecessary.

The fixed anchor members '67 carried-by the its rack" stringers 38 m'ay comprise sheet; metal:

'straps,- thegbodycofewhich is 'fsecured longi= '7 'tudinally of the stringers 38 on the lowergsidei 1' of'fthe;;stringers ,;by a plura'lityofcscrewbolts] -At its outer i end; the strap 67 is bent V V downward as at 69' to form a shoulder for engaging in the plate; 65 and at'70 the strap;- 67 is bentrbackward upon itself the parallel j portion '71 being at substantially the Tfsam; e lengthas the width of the recessA3 in plate 65; The extreme endZQ of the strap 67 i'sgben'tf 7 upwardginto engagement with the fbody-ibf the Estra 67 formin aqslioulderrforen a ing 7 b 23 b b the Wall 44tfof platel65, and it will th'us. be; 3 observed that the strap 67 is adaptedto form a' fixed anchorfmember having shoulders I for I engagingiin therecessesofthejfloorl'plate65ia This" simplified construction otthe anchor membeii is'v also 'veryzefiective, but the straps 67; form a.- slight projection 11pon;theinner v. V wall-of the, carwhenlthe racl s,...a1'e--folded to zthejpositionishown -relativeto racks 33 3,5.' is flItEWill thus be observed that I haveine i Vented a; refrigerator car i'ni which the floor tions' mayfbe made without departing from. V "thespirit ofthel'invention, andI do 'not Wish to l-be limitedr to the-precise details of cone struction'set forth, but-,desire-to avail myself V "anchor plate carried by the car floor at the" racks are positively}anchoredV adjacent the:

p :centerfoffthe carto prevent:anysh'iftingof r 1 a the floorracks;whichgmight;otherwisedam?f i agegthe floor, thewa-lls or .bullrhead or' which j might cause 'damage 'tojthe:load carried ijbyf the floor"v racks. IThepresent anchoring deg v vlcejmayb'e-applied to are frlgerator carw lthout removing the racks from the floor, and it ofany type r '7 I V, 1 o While l have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention; Tmany niodifica is universally applicable to old and newcars;

of l h ges Within h Scope-9f theg Vpended'claim's. f is rfHaving thus described my invention, What,- I I claim is new and desire to secur r 7 7 re by Letters Patents of the UnitedStatesyist I l In a, refrigerator car," the r combination of a'car with agplurality of floor racks, means" for securing said racks to the car adjacent carried by said racks.

curing theur'acks at .points spaced from the Walls comprising female anchor members car ried by the-floor; and finale anchorgmembers 2.Inaflrefrigerator-car, the combination e Offl/ car withaplurality-of floor ra'cks,-'means for securing-said racksto thecar adjacent ithe car Walls,and anchoring. means: for '.se-\ a 1 curing the racksjat points spa'ced from, the, walls comprising female anchormemberscarried bythe floor and male anchor members carried by. said racks, sa1d1male anchor'membersbeing movablyfmounted to eliminateSp'rO- 'jections rom I the racks when" the racks are *foldedia-gainst thec'ar-WalL; a '3 In. arefrigerator, ca-13: the combination.

the-carf walls, and anchoringmeans; for 'secarried by said racks to receive part ofv said malean'chormembers. I V 7 a V 5 A." 'I pa "refrigeratoribarfth combination. I gof a floorlrack withihinges for securingione edgeiof said rack to a car, an; anchor member:

carried; by the fc'arfloor, and having a pair 7 of opposed-ishoulders, mo Vableanchor mem-,; 'bers :vcarried by'v said: rack and *adapted itoj -m'ove into or out o'fzanch oring positionaand,

a second anchor'm'fember carried'by said rack, I

anchor-members;

5." An-Tancherage device "forffioor fra'cks; i

comprising a f'floor'iiplat-e 5 having: a: recess 1 said movable' anchor meinber being adapted to belreceiv ed between shoulders onsaid other r formed therein,arack frame member, a bolt carried] by said. frame. member; a {recessed plate carried byf'said framemember, and'fa movable anchor-*- carried; by, said 1 bolt for j engagement in the recessesof' said plates; 1

' a- 6.'f An-,anchorage deviceefor'floorfracks; l i.'eomprising a -floor -'*p1 ate: ha'vingi-a recess formed therein,- a rack frame-member, a bolt r carriedf by said frame Tmember, a recessed plate carried by"'said'fr'amegmember, and a movable anchor-carried 'by' said belt for en I gagem'ent in the recesses of said plates said movable member comprising a metal member; having a'pair'of legs withslots for receiving said'bolt In a refrigerator car cthecombination ofa car with a pair of'fio'or racks 'pivotally mounted adjacent the wallf'of'saidcar,an

adjacent corners of'said'racks opposite to said pivotal mounting, forsecurin'g both said v ra'cks;a third rack pivotal'ly'zmountedt'o one of said pair of racks'and anchordevicescar ried by said pair ofracks for anchoringfsaid' racks against sliding movement.

T Y 8. In a refrigerator I car, the combination f a carwwithja pair of floorfracks pivotally mounted adjacent the Wall of said car, an 'anchqr'nplate' carried by the Learfloor at the adjacent cornersof said racks'opposite :to

said"pii otal mount-ing; for securing" both said racks, a third rack piv'otally mounted to one of said pair otracks and anchor de- V1ces carr1edby sa1d pair of racks for anchoring' saidracks against sliding movement; said anchor dev1ce's- -,compr1s'1ng rece ssed a plates carrledlbyisaidracks and movable an-v ch01 members to engage the'plates von said.

9: Ina refrigerator car theIcOmbinatiOn sofa car with a fioor rack secti0n,-means for pivotally mounting said section at fthe outer] edge of-the car floor, an anchor plate carried um f llu

by the floor, and an anchor member carried by the rack section adjacent the free edge of said section and adapted to engage said anchor late to prevent sliding of said section on the oor..

10. In a refrigerator car, the combination of a car With a floor rack section, means for pivotally mounting said section at the outer edge of the car floor, an anchor plate carried by the floor, an anchor member carried by the rack section adjacent the free edge of said section and adapted to engage said anchor plate to prevent sliding of said section on the floor, and a second section having its edge. pivotally mounted on said first mentioned section for movement onan axis at right angles With the pivotal movement of said first mentioned section, both of said sections being anchored against sliding movement by said 7 plate and anchor member.

11. A rack anchor for floorracks comprising an anchor plate having a recess formed therein, said recesshaving tapered ends and shoulders at its sides, and an anchor member carried by the floor rack comprising a male metal member for engagement in said recess to prevent sliding of said racks. I e

12. A rack anchor for floor racks comprising an anchor plate having a recess formed therein, said recesshaving shoulders at its sides, a second anchor plate having a recess and adapted to be carried by a rack, and

an anchor member adapted to be received in the recesses in said anchor plates to pre vent relative sliding between theracks and a on said rack for movement out of anchoring position.

In Witness Whereof,-I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of May, 1929.

KNUTE EDAHL. 

